WHAT'S NEW IN LABOUR FORCE
NEW LABOUR FORCE SURVEY SAMPLE DESIGN
The current Labour Force Survey sample is selected using information collected in the 2006 Census of Population and Housing. Following the release of 2011 Census based Estimated Resident Population (ERP), more up to date information is available for use in the selection of the Labour Force Survey sample. The ABS had previously advised in the July 2012 issue that the new Labour Force Survey sample would be phased in over four months from April 2013. The phase in strategy has been updated to commence from May 2013. An information paper (cat. no. 6269.0) will be released prior to the release of the May 2013 estimates in June 2013 with detailed information on the sample design.
ELECTRONIC COLLECTION OF LABOUR FORCE DATA
The ABS has been undertaking a trial of on-line electronic data collection of labour force data from households since December 2012. The trial is being conducted on one rotation group (i.e. one-eighth of the survey sample) and respondents were offered the option of completing the survey on-line instead of a face-to-face or telephone interview. The uptake in February was 20.9% of the rotation group (2.6% of the total labour force survey sample).
The trial will continue prior to a decision on rolling out progressively to the full Labour Force Survey sample.